“Today when I stepped outside and felt the vitamin D, I was ready to run a marathon.” – me
“Good for you! You finally ran again!” – my friend
“No. I walked in the sunlight to get to my car.” – me
That’s been my August and I would bet many teachers too. August is the month that we come back from a much-needed summer break and our legs forget how much walking we do. August is the month that only consistent things are…inconsistencies: sleep, working out, changes in our schedule. But August is also a month that brings so much optimism and hope and refreshed energy! It’s an exciting time and tiring one as a teacher.
August has been a great month for me. It’s the first time in my (short) career that I haven’t either switched classroom and/or switched schools. That made transitioning back much easier despite the all the changes at my school and on our team. My teammates are fantastic! Lastly, my first days of school were much more planned out thanks to all my planning. Speaking of which…
ALL. THE. PLANNING. I’m a 4th grade self-contained teacher this year and loving it, but it takes more work. To make matters more hectic, I had already set a goal to be better prepared each day. The first weeks, I’d leave at 5-6pm, drive 30 minutes home, relax until 8 or 9pm, then go back to prepping for an hour or two. Then immediately hit the bed, set the alarm for 5am, and repeat that for 5 days.
I am tired. Despite my best intentions, I’m not my best self. My legs are tired, and no amount of breakfast can wake me up (and I’m proud of say I’ve eaten breakfast at my kitchen table before leaving for school, read my devotion, and made my bed every day.) My energy is zapped. If I don’t greet someone with a big smile and loud voice, they get worried about me. I’m doing the best I can. Teacher tired is real!
That’s why changing your path is important. Identify what’s happening and seek solutions. Your feet are tired, wear more comfortable and/or walk less. Your energy is draining. Eat foods that give you healthy, sustainable energy. You’re working late. Ask for help, or …don’t work. Yep, I said it. Take time for you. Your spouse, your kids, your dog, and job will thank you for it. Lay out your clothes for the day and week. Go to bed earlier. Have your bags and lunch packed the night before. These are just some ways to help yourself.
Teacher tired is real. So is teacher burnout. August is a tough month and sometimes it drags into other months. Make sure if you’re tired, identify that you are, find the cause(s) and commit to changing it. You can do this! Remember… YOU are amazing!
